Nome, Alaska

So I am not really sure what to write about.  My trip to Nome was so awesome and yet so radically diffrent from last year I am still processing a little bit.  A lot happened, I did some awesome and amazing things, and I learned a whole heeping lot about myself.

If I could describe this trip in one word it would be relationships.  I got to spend a lot of time hanging out with people, talking to them, beinging challeneged, and hopefully an encouragment to them.  So I am going to share a few stories of some of the people I got to serve next to. 

Caroline and I at the finish line

I met Caroline last year in Nome, she is one awesome young lady.  When I saw her for the first time this year, I grabbed her shoulders and just looked at her, it took her a few seconds, but then she screamed "Sarah, I didn't know you were coming."  That one moment with her would have been worth my whole trip.  But that wasn't the end, on the day of the finish we spend a couple of hours, just the two of us.  We watched Baker win, played on the Bering Sea, at candy, and my favorite, skipped down Front Street.  I love this girl, and to be able to see her some over the summer is going to be such a huge blessing.

Cheryl and I at the Concession Stand

Cheryl is Carolines mom, and its easy to see why Caroline is as awesome as she is.  Cheryl has been such a reminder of how with God's help we can do anything.  Cheryl and Candy (who I don't have a picture with :( 

work in the Concession Stand everyday from Sunday to Saturday, often 14 or more hours each day.  Cheryl is one lady I am proud to know and maybe one day I can be half as awesome as she is. 

James, Nathan, and I

James and Nathan are two boys from Nome that I had the privilage of spending some time with.  One of my favorite memories with them is walking from the minnie back to the church.  It took us a good 30 minutes to make a walk that should take about seven.  But we had to stop to play in the snow bank, take pictures under the arch, slide down the hill in the parking lot, and basically laugh and play our way back to the church.  These boys are awesome and I can't wait for the day when they are changing the world.

Lisa and Kirsten

I don't know what to say about these two women.  I grew up with both of them, but until recently didn't relize how totally super awesom and amazing they are.  Both of them have such a huge heart for God and those around them it amazes me.  One of the greatest parts about this trip was seeing them fall in love with the people of Nome and go out of their way to serve them.  It blessed me in ways they probably don't even know.  I love these two girls, and can't wait to see where God sends them next.  But I am putting my money on Alaska for both of them. 

Linzey and I

How do you tell the world about someone who has come beside you, encouraged you, laughed at/with you, and made you relize how great a God we serve?  I don't know but that is just a little of what Linzey has done for me.  I had the amazing opportunity to hang out with this girl nearly everyday.  And everyday was better than the one before.  I met her last year and loved her then, but now I can't imagine my life without her there.  She helped me to see some things I need to work on, helped me in some of the struggles I had while in Nome.  And overall was a sounding board for me when everything else was weighing down on me.  Linzey was a huge blessing to me while we where in Nome.  But the most awesome thing (besides the fact she is Linz) is that I can still call her, and even see her if I need to, because God has placed us near each other in our daily lives. 

Daniel, Me, and Caroline at the finish

The whole week was a ton of fun, I don't have pictures of everyone I got to know and work with, but the few above give you a little glimps into the awesome week I had.  I am so blessed with the friends and family I have, and this week in Nome just made that circle bigger.

All of these pictures represent special people in my life, and many memories.  I hope you enjoyed them.

My Hero

I know you guys are anticipating a post about my time in Nome and I promise that will come, maybe even today.  But right now I want to take time to tell you about my hero.

This last weekend, right after my Math test Friday drove back to Perryton for the weekend so I could share about my trip to Nome.  I loved my time at home, however brief it was and Sunday after lunch I was back in the car to head back here. I was rockin and  rollin until I got to Childress, and when I got there, my car just decided to quit.  I pulled over, thinking I would let it cool, then continue on.  After many different attempts to start it, get help starting it, and finally giving up.  The decision was made for Dad to bring me the Toyota, and take the Honda back to Perryton.

Why this post is supposed to be about my hero, is because, I discovered, while verbally journaling on the way home, and the fact that he drove over three hours to rescue me, how awesome my Dad is.  He was supposed to be reporting to church about his trip to Nashville.  The trip he took with the rest of our family, instead he is in the pickup coming to save me.  I know he always would have done it, but it was really big for me at that moment. 

I have always loved my dad, been fairly close to him, and known how awesome he was.  But a year ago that was even more obvious as we traveled to Alaska together.  While there is a lot I could say about that, basically, when multiple people tell you in one week, often in the same day how blessed you are to have the dad you do.  You sit up and take notice.  And I did, so that week will always be one of my most treasured memories out of my entire life.  Then when Mom and Dad went to Alaska for their anniversary, they both shared with me how everywhere they looked, they knew I would love it there.  They also set me on a journey to spend a summer ministering in Alaska.

When I got the email telling me I was appointed to a summer long, trip to Alaska, I called my Mom, she didn't answer so I called Dad.  When I told him where I could go, I remember him saying something along the lines of "your going to love it, you will do awesome, that is great."  After he said that I told him, I hadn't even read the email yet, much less thought or prayed about it.  His response was basically telling me he had no doubt where I would be this summer. 

This weekend, as I was talking my thoughts out, I realized that my dad knew if I accepted this position I wouldn't be around to help him this summer.  He knew it would make his summer more difficult, and would make the summer more difficult on everyone.  But, what I realized was Dad could have when I called him, challenged me to think about being in Perryton, he could have told me I needed to be double, and triple certain this was where God had me.  But he didn't, he just said go. 

In that moment, he showed me his unending love for me.  While I never had a doubt I would be supported if I went to Alaska for the summer, this no hesitation, blessing was huge for me.  I told Dad this weekend what it meant to me.  He knows, but I want everyone else to know as well, if your in my family tell Dad thanks.  He deserves it.  If you see him, give him a hug for me.  Being 600 miles away makes that difficult for me.

I know this verse is referring to mothers, but I think it fits, "Her children arise and call her blessed;"
I love you Dad!

Nome Alaska

Yesterday, Kirsten had the opportunity to attend a tea with several of the other women here.  This was a huge break through for the mission effort up here.  The opportunity to share Christ through, bible in the buckets, dress packs, and conversation.  Kirsten's experience there was awesome, she has shared with us about how being given things that will help them, opened their hearts to the hope of Christ.

As Kirsten was experiencing the awesome breakthrough from the woman's tea, Lisa and I where working in the concessions stand.  For me it has been extremelly neat to see how I am continuting relationships I started last spring, and developing new ones.  There are three other girls from the College Station area and around our age.  It has been neat to see us bond, laugh, and share with others.  Even right at this instance as I am writing, four other awesome girls are sitting around me talking about our experiences so far. 

I am a little off kilter right now.  I am not sure where I am, and what I am feeling but I know I am seeing God work in amazing ways.  Lisa and Kirsten, are going to work on writing an update and I will try to get another one up right now. 

• Pray for us as we are getting further along on the trip and we are getting tired.  It is a challenge to put ninty people in a small church together and no one get testy.  
• For the people here, especially the women who where ministered to yesterday at the tea.
• That everyone here, native, Alaskan, or tourist would see the love of Christ in all of us here.

This weekend another Aggie and I had a great group of high school girls as our small group.  While I was looking over the lessons last week, I thought they where good and all but I wasn't really sure what to do on preparing.  When we got there I was supper blessed to not have to worry about encouragaing conversation.  These girls just had questions and comments from whatever scripture we read.  I know in some small groups the leader carries the whole conversation, for one I did not want it to be that way this weekend.  And it wasn't.  I was so encouraged and blessed it was amazing.  Yes I am functioning off of 12 hours of sleep from the last two nights and lots of caffine.  I could have had more sleep, but I would have missed getting to know some of the things I know about these girls in Waller. I would have missed the blessing of hearing them talk about their struggles, or sitting on the bed laughing and learning about their life.

Long story short, I had a great weekend, it has made my life a little more difficult for the next couple of days but I wouldn't change it for anything.  So I guess I have a couple prayer requests.

• Pray for the students of Waller that they would not just have this awesome weekend and then go back to their normal lives and not apply what they learned.
• Pray for the leadership of Waller Baptist Church that they would be able to continue to build off of what the students learned this weekend.
• Pray for me as I work the first part of this week to get all my homework done.  And packed for Alaska.
• Pray that God would prepare me for what He wants to do in me while I am in Nome. 
• Pray for the people of Nome and the surrounding villages, the visitors coming to watch the Iditarod, and the Iditarod volunteers, that we would be able to show Christ's love to them effectively.

I am supper excited about this trip and I can't wait to share what God does with you all.  I promise I will update at least once while I am gone.  And if you are lucky there might even be pictures.

Hope

So two weekends ago I was at Discovery Weekend.  I promised I would let you guys know how it went, and when I tried to last week I couldn't do it.  I was still processing, and figuring out what I was feeling and what it all meant to me.  So here I am today after a week of processing in my head all that happened, then finding out where I was appointed, to processing that, I am ready to tell you all that happened.

While at Discovery Weekend we where asked to do several things.  One of which was to not talk about where we wanted to go with each other.  While I wanted to do this, and tried to, I must admit I broke the rule where they asked us not to talk to each other.  One of the things I loved the most about my time at Discovery Weekend, other than the awesome people I met, was that they repeatedly talked to us about how missions is a life.  Each time I sat down to listen to whatever speaker was there, I constantly heard about how I must make my life a daily mission trip.  Something I wake up everyday and say "I will show Christ's love to those around me in whatever way possible."  One of the things that struck me the most that I was told while at Discovery Weekend was that the goal was not to let us know what trip we would be taking this summer.  But instead, we would simply learn about where we would be going next.  For me that was mind blowing.  It's not a trip, it's a life.

One of the things I struggled with the most leading up to Discovery Weekend was fighting doubts I was having.  The biggest being that I was fighting my hope that I would get to go to Alaska.  I kept trying to shut it down.  To be open to whatever God has in store for me.  I finally realized that it was okay for me to hope to go to Alaska.  I love Alaska, I love the people up there, I would love to spend a summer up there.  It clicked in me that I would be fine, if I didn't get to go to Alaska over the summer, but I didn't have to stop hoping I would get to.  After I realized that I would be content with God telling me to spend the summer anywhere from Alaska, somewhere else, or even home in Perryton, I felt a huge freedom.

So at the end of the weekend when I was asked to fill out my preference card, I wrote the two Alaska trips, first was the summer long trip, second was the four week Salmon Frenzy trip.  I also went to my small group leader and talked to her about how while I would love to go to Alaska, I did not feel a strong sense of God telling me to go.  I wanted her to understand that ultimately I was very open to whatever the committee felt God wanted me to go.  I came back to College Station, went on with my life, trying to focus on what I had learned.  Waiting for the hours to pass to when I would find out where I would be asked to go.  I expected the email to come Thursday or Friday, maybe Wednesday.  But Tuesday night I got the email telling me I had been appointed to the summer long Removing Barriers Alaska trip.

I was so surprised and excited, that I called my parents without reading all of the email.  I then called the women, who is the reason I checked my email that night and an awesome example and blessing in my life.  I still don't think it has totally clicked with me that I am going to Alaska all summer long.  I was so surprised that I was appointed to Alaska.  i couldn't believe it.

So in case you missed it, I will be in Alaska from mid May to early August.  While I do not expect it to be easy, and I know I will be stretched and tested in ways I can't even imagine, I am beyond excited.

Love

Tomorrow is Valentines Day, while I have absolutely no reason to celebrate the traditional Valentines day, I do have a reason to love.  Today in church, Pastor David talked about the Valentine Command, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."  Each of us as Christians, is  commanded to love those around us.  I have heard this all of my life, but somehow, this morning it really clicked.  I have to love those around me.  One of he things that Pastor Higgs said is "Until I love God like I should, I will never love others like I could."  That really stuck with me.  Lately I have seen over and over how I need to keep God first and center in my life.  Then everything else will work itself out. 


He also said something that scared me a little, he said "Loving others like Jesus did will send me somewhere."  I am leaving for Alaska in a little over twenty days, and I am afraid that I cannot love the people there the way Jesus has called me to love them.  And according to Pastor Higgs, I have o learnt o love Jesus unconditionally before I can even begin o love the people of Alaska. 


Also as many of you know, I applied to be a summer missionary this summer.  This weekend, I am attending Discovery Weekend, his weekend s designed to help me see where God wants me to be this summer.  Who he wants me to serve.  I have been putting off thinking and praying a out where God want me to be, saying I have to wait until Discovery Weekend. And now as this weekend is mere days away, I actually have to look my God in the face and ask Him to reveal his hear to me.  And that is scary for me. 


So, today I want to change what I write here a little.  I would like to ask you to pray for me.  Pray that I will have an open heart to what God has for me.  Pray that my heart will be the hear of God.  Pray that me and all those there this weekend will be open to what God is revealing to us.  


I would also like to ask you to pray for the people of Nome.  Lisa, Kirsten, myself and dozens of other volunteers will descend upon Nome in a few short weeks, pray that all of us would be ready to get our of our comfort zone and be ready to show Christ's love to those around us.  Pray that all the volunteers are able to bridge relationships for Christ with several segments of the race and village community.


I will continue to post new prayer requests as our trip gets closer and I will be sure to post how this weekend goes.  Thank you all for your support for me and everyone else going on this trip.  I would not be where I am today without the support of those around me.  And for that I am supremely grateful. 

Lessons

Yesterday I got an email from my Dad telling me that he wanted to hear about Abide.  I know I said I would tell you guys about it.  But, part of me was hoping that I wouldn’t have to think about what to say and in that way hide from what I had been taught, convicted of, and enjoyed.  No matter how good of a weekend it was, I knew in order to appreciate that, I would have to accept the things God taught me.  So, somewhat unconsciously, I decided to just act like last weekend did not happen.  It was easier to hide, instead of looking forward.  

I decided early last week to spend Friday night and Saturday at a prayer retreat kind of thing, called Abide.  We got their late Friday night and after the opening service I went to  the different experiences.  They where rooms set up for a specific purpose.  Their was Confession, Adoration, the Ends of the Earth, Judea-the lost, Supplication-standing in the gap, Thanksgiving, Jerusalem-Texas campuses, a place for fellowship, and a room where you could create something.  As I looked at the list of all these places I could go, I had a sense that I had to get myself right with God before I could ever begin to be in fellowship with Him.  So after spending about two hours clearing my heart and mind so I could be free I felt tired, like I wanted to go sleep before I entered what I was hoping would be a day full of praise, worship, love, and fellowship.

The next morning I woke up early did my Bible study and then walked down to the lake.  As I stood there looking at the lake, in the cool morning air, thinking about how I was given a new beautiful morning.  I thought of all the times God has given me a second chance.  It happens everyday, yet I rarely stop to say thanks.  Saturday morning opened my eyes and heart to being grateful for what Christ has given me.  I spent a lot of time writing in my journal, one of the things I remember that stood out to me the most happened when I was in the Adoration room.

While in their the people that had set up the room asked us to think about what adoration meant to me.  As I thought about that a picture appeared in my mind.  It was a picture of a newly married couple, ones that when they looked at each other everyone around them knew that they where totally in love with each other.  That when they are apart their spouse is all they can think about, they tell everyone around them about the love of their life.  I was hit with how that should be how I am with Christ.  Everyone should be able to tell by looking at me that  I am in love with Christ.  I should want to tell everyone I see that Jesus is my hero, that he is my all.  When I am not talking to Him, I should be thinking about him.  When I sit in class, I shouldn’t be able to concentrate on my professor, I should be thinking about when I get to be with Christ.  The one word that kept coming to my mind was consuming.  I should be consumed with Christ.  

So know I have been forced to look back on those two days and see what God taught me.  I needed the prompting of my Dad to open up and apply what I was taught.  So thanks Dad, I love you and thanks for the encouragement.